Method and system for generating fully-textured 3D

Abstract

A 3D modeling system for automatically generating fully-textured 3D models of objects from a sequence of images taken around the objects is disclosed. There are several processes developed to facilitate the operation of the 3D modeling system by an ordinary skilled person. One of the processes is the automatic calibration of a camera using only a portion of a calibration disc to essentially provide a larger effective field of view of the camera. Another process is a space carving process that subdivides volumetric cells recursively to fit to a 3D object using a tree structure that encodes the entire process. Still another process is a 3D mesh model generation process that begins with the tree structure and generates self-constraint and interconnected triangles, in a sense that all triangles intersect with each other either not at all or at common boundary faces, to represent the shape of the 3D object. Yet still another process is a textured patch process that provides a useful mechanism for a user to edit and modify a fully-textured 3D model in a desired manner by the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefits of the provisional application, No. 60 / 093,335, filed Jul. 20, 1998, entitled “Generation of Fully-Textured 3D Models System”, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to 3-dimensional (3D) scanning and measuring systems and more particularly relates to methods and systems for generating 3D fully textured models from 2-dimensional imagery of 3D objects acquired by a color video imaging system.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Three-dimensional (3D) models of objects can provide information useful for a variety of applications such as generating computer aided design models from physical objects in product designs, outlining biological structures or organs in medical research and generating digital characters for computer games. Nevertheless, the creation of the 3D models h...

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Benefits of technology

[0010]The invention relates to techniques that provide for automatically generating fully-textured 3D models of objects from a sequence of images taken around the objects. A 3D modeling system employing the inventi

Problems solved by technology

Nevertheless, the creation of the 3D models has in the past required highly skilled professionals, extensive artistic knowledge, expensive modeling equipment and laborious efforts.

The accuracy of the systems may be high but the systems are costly.

Further the digitizing

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